Featured Review: SWING VOTE

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Swing Vote



Starring- Kevin Costner, Paula Patton, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Madeline Carroll, Stanley Tucci, Nathan Lane, George Lopez



Directed by Joshua Michael Stern



Grade: B+


"What are we about?"
"Winning. Because if you don't win, you can't do what you set out to do."

In the wake of perhaps the most important Presidential election of our time, and surely the most engaging Democratic election ever, it's kind of amazing that Swing Vote fared so poorly at the box office. Surely it was the lack of marketing, mostly centering around the film being just another Kevin Costner vehicle, and bad timing, being released square in the middle of the summer movie bonanza and well before the fervor of a Presidential election reaches the public who are not political aficionados. Even so, one would get the sense there could be some kind of market for a film like Swing Vote.

Strange, because while Touchstone may not have had faith in the initially unrealistic plot and turn of events, Swing Vote comes away with much less cheese and sap than its trailer or synopsis would lead you to believe. Instead it's an inarguably easygoing story that doesn't stray from the center line of politics, and surprisingly for such a toothless jab at pundits and the media, it's somewhat effective. If a film like The Manchurian Candidate or Dr. Strangelove is an intellectual thinking man's political satire, Swing Vote is a poor man's Capra-esque tale. Heartwarming and earnest, if decidedly overreaching in its humble message.

Ernest "Bud" Johnson (Costner) is a newly unemployed everyman from Texico, New Mexico (real town!), who rather drink, sleep, and carouse around than to own up to any responsibilities in his life. His daughter Molly (Madeline Carroll) does most of the things around the house and keeps him out of trouble. When he fails to show up for the polls on Election Day, thereby disappointing his daughter, she attempts to cast a ballot for him, but the machine gets shut off. When they find out New Mexico is the state that decides the entire election, it ends up coming down to one county, and to one man, Bud.

Costner as Bud is quite frankly a real jerk. He seems to at times have no respect for anyone but himself, and even himself he thinks very lowly of. Bud constantly lets down his daughter, and seemingly has no real moral compass outside of the basic rules of abuse and murder. Costner is actually quite good in the role, making one almost believe he isn't the actor who's face and name is supposed to sell the film on the poster. The fact that his character never truly breaks away from his sardonic, redneck ways even after his realization of what kind of life he's led, goes a long way into selling the character and plot implications.

Same goes for his daughter Molly and his supposed "love interest" Kate Madison, played by Madeline Carroll and Paula Patton respectively. Molly has a terrible case of Lisa Simpson syndrome, being way too smart and insightful for her age, being able to point out the flaws of every character and America in general just when the scene needs it. Patton often has the same "too perfect to be real" persona, but the fact that neither she nor Molly end up being a deciding factor in Bud's decision (Kate and Bud, despite all roads leading towards it, never actually start a relationship), again thwarts the pigeon-holing Swing Vote was destined to follow.

Kelsey Grammer and Dennis Hopper, the incumbent Republican and the opposing Democrat, make believable politicians. Though both are Republicans in real life, both Grammer and Hopper carry an air about themselves that speak of the basic principles of the parties they represent. Though the fact that their waffling on tried and true conservative and liberal stances in the effort to obtain Bud's vote can be seen as more unrealistic than the one-vote-wins plot, it often finds its most satirical moments there. It's a shame that Hopper's role was supposedly cut dramatically, because he's pretty interesting, especially in the film's funniest scene about an anti-abortion commercial.

Also lending some credence is the clean direction by Joshua Michael Stern. The film is a finely paced parable that never seems to sag much, nor get too frantic in places. Many scenes are aesthetically aware, going for centering shots and crisp backgrounds. The fact that Swing Vote merely looks like it was taken under careful consideration by Stern, sells the film more than any of the performances.

Let's face it, the fact that America comes down to one singular vote is pretty preposterous. There have been elections that came down to one vote many times in the history of the world, but never on such a scale as Swing Vote fantasizes. Especially in this day and age, when the candidates have so many campaign workers and strategists (in this case, realistically seedy Nathan Lane and Stanley Tucci), a recount and further controversy would happen long before such a situation would arise.

But to Swing Vote's credit, it's quite self-aware in the fact that it's not supposed to be a hard-nosed satire that strives for absolute realism. At least it acknowledged that the popular vote wasn't tied, as Bud's tiny county was merely the deciding vote of a state that would tip a neck and neck election. While everyone is waiting for Bud's decision, Hopper's Greenleaf has a one electoral vote lead. Adding mixed opinions from real-life pundits such as Chris Mathews, Bill Maher, Larry King, Ariana Huffington, and James Carville further the fact that this is a fantasy movie that merely offers a few good-natured questions, not out to shake up the entire political world.

Swing Vote is a nifty little film if it isn't expected to completely deride the facade of American politics. It makes some earnest points about the sensationalism in the media, and the corporate underbelly behind the electoral process and government positioning, but it's for a more mainstream audience. Not to say it's dumbed down, but just with softer edges. If you're someone who is a staunch supporter of a particular affiliation, the viewpoints you carry will definitely cloud your mind of a movie that isn't trying to swing viewers into a set party. But if like Bud, you're not very political or have an open mind to everybody's ideas, Swing Vote may be for you.